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Bill

A 1355

Prohibits bill certified for fiscal note or estimate from being released from committee without fiscal note or estimate.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris DePhillips and 1 co-sponsor

Mandates completed fiscal notes before bills exit committee, ensuring transparent cost analysis of legislation before advancement.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee
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Bill Summary · A 1355

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 1355 requires that any legislative bill for which a fiscal note or fiscal estimate has been requested must include that analysis before it can leave committee. Currently, bills can be released from committee without completed fiscal notes, potentially allowing measures with significant budgetary implications to advance without transparent cost analysis.

Why is this important

Fiscal notes provide lawmakers and the public with critical information about a bill's projected financial impact on state budgets, local governments, and taxpayers. This requirement aims to prevent bills with substantial costs or savings from proceeding through the legislative process without documented evidence of their fiscal consequences, improving transparency and informed decision-making.

Potential points of contention

  • Legislative efficiency concerns: Fiscal note preparation takes time; requiring completion before committee release could slow the legislative process and create bottlenecks, particularly for bills introduced late in session
  • Fiscal note accuracy disputes: Fiscal notes represent estimates, not certainties; different analysts may produce different projections, raising questions about what happens when notes are contested or subsequently revised
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill doesn't clarify which bills trigger fiscal note requirements or who determines when certification occurs, potentially creating administrative disputes about applicability

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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